Device for fixing a shoe to a sports article

ABSTRACT

A device for binding a boot to a sports article. The device includes a base adapted to be fixed onto the sports article, a member for connecting to the boot, the member including an anchoring element on a front zone of the boot, a rocker bar for connecting the connecting member to the base, the rocker bar being journalled on the base, on the one hand, and on the connecting member, on the other hand, the journal axle of the rocker bar on the base being arranged at the rear of the journal axle of the connecting member on the rocker bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for a journal binding of aboot to a sports article, in particular a gliding sport, such as iceskating, roller skating, cross-country skiing, etc.

2. Description of Background and Relevant Information

It is already known from FR 2 659 534 to have a journalled linkage of aboot to a sports article such as a roller skate, ice skate, so as toincrease the impulse torque during the sporting activity. The documentprovides either a journal of the boot on the sports article in thelocation of the big toe in the boot so as to enable a maximum rotationof the boot, or a journal in the metatarsophalangeal articulation zoneof the foot so as to guarantee a good foot movement.

In the first case, the maximum rotation of the boot makes it possible tomaximize the impulse torque of the leg during the motive phase, but thisoccurs to the detriment of precision and guiding of the boot, inparticular with a flexible sole that is necessary for a good footmovement.

In the second case, the journal in the metatarsophalangeal journal axismakes it possible to improve the guiding to the detriment, however, ofthe foot movement and the impulse torque.

The document WO 96/37269 aims to resolve the same problem, namely,maximizing the thrust force or impulse torque during the sportingactivity by proposing a multiple frame construction in which the framesare adapted to pivot and to translate one with respect to the other.

The preferred embodiments of this document WO 96/37269 include at leastfour connecting rods that are journalled and which can translate withrespect to one another. As a result, it is an extremely complicated,heavy, expensive, difficult to implement and fragile construction,especially if the sport must be practiced in an aggressive environment(cold, snow, dust, etc.).

The document WO 96/37269 also proposes another construction which usesmeshings and, therefore, is also extremely complicated and expensive tomake, and is also very sensitive to dirt, cold, snow, etc.

Furthermore, each of the constructions of the document WO 96/37269 canonly allow movements of the boot that are limited and comprised between20° and 48°, these small movements being detrimental to a good practiceof the sporting activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioneddisadvantages and to provide an improved binding device that makes itpossible, in particular, to maximize the impulse torque transmitted bythe leg, while being compatible with proper guiding of the boot, largedisplacement and good precision of the movement.

Another object is also to provide a binding device whose construction issimple, inexpensive, compact, and which is insensitive to externalconditions, in particular cold and snow.

This object is achieved in the device for binding a boot to a sportsarticle according to the invention, due to the fact that it comprises abase adapted to be fixed to the sports article, a member for connectingto the boot comprising an anchoring means or element on a front zone ofthe boot, a rocker bar for connecting the connecting member to the base,the rocker bar being journalled on the base, on the one hand, and on theconnecting member, on the other hand, the journal axis of the rocker baron the base being arranged at the rear of the journal axis of theconnecting member on the rocker bar.

Indeed, the connecting member, fixed on a front zone of the boot,stiffens the latter and therefore makes it possible to maintain thedesired precision of movement, whereas a construction having a singlerocker bar is simple, minimum, compact, and inexpensive.

Furthermore, such a construction is insensitive to cold and snow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood and other characteristicsthereof will become apparent from the description that follows, withreference to the annexed schematic drawings showing, by way ofnon-limiting examples, a plurality of preferred embodiments, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the binding device according to the inventionin raised position, the boot being shown in dot-and-dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the binding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 in a lowered position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 in the lowered position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the binding device 10 according to the invention ensuringthe linkage of a boot 2 to a sports article 1.

The binding device includes a base 11 fixed on the upper surface of thesports article 1, a rocker bar 20 journalled on the base 11 about atransverse axle 21, a connecting member 30 journalled along a transverseaxle 31 on the rocker bar 20, and an elastic return means 40 constitutedin this case by a band of elastic material such as rubber or Pebax. Theconnecting member 30 can be regarded as a first connecting member, to beconnected to the boot, whereby the rocker bar 20 can be regarded as asecond connecting member for connecting the first connecting member 30to the base 11.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the connecting member 30 is in theform of a beam constituted of two rocker bars 32 spaced apart at thefront by the transverse journal axle 31 on the rocker bar 20, on the onehand, and by an axle 33 arranged at the rear of the two rocker bars, onthe other hand. These axles 31, 33 also serve as an anchoring means orelement for the boot and are adapted to cooperate with complementarymeans of the sole or of the boot upper (which are not shown in thedrawing). Of course, other anchoring means can be envisioned, and, inparticular, the beam 30 can be integrated in the boot sole, for exampleby being molded to the sole during manufacture of the boot, or can befixed to the latter by screws, rivets, etc.

Removable anchoring means, i.e., which enable a quick removal of theboot can also be provided.

The connecting member 30 can also be obtained in a different manner, andin particular can be constituted by a beam in a single piece, in abuckled plate, or in another synthetic material, etc.

The beam defined by the connecting member 30 preferably has a lengthcorresponding to that of the front zone, which extends from the frontend up to the metatarsophalangeal journal zone of a boot, i.e.,approximately a third of the length of a boot.

The object of this beam 30 is not only to obtain the linkage of the bootto the sports article, but also to stiffen the boot so as to enable abetter guiding and transmission of the forces when the boot is raisedduring the sporting activity.

Of course, the beam 30 can also have any other shape, and in particularit can be longer or shorter.

The front portion of each of the rocker bars 32 has a curved profile 34in the form of a ramp by which each of these rocker bars 32 is insupport on the base 11. This curved profile 34 cooperates with the base11 during pivoting of the boot so as to reproduce a rotational andtranslational movement corresponding to the movement of the foot in thearea of the big toe. As can be seen in the figures, the curved supportramp 34 is in rolling engagement with the base 11 as the rear of theboot and a rear of the connecting member moves up and down during use.

This construction makes it possible to reproduce a movement of the foot,as if the journal axis of the boot were fixed at the front end of thelatter, while maintaining the precision of the rigid sole, since thesole is in fact stiffened by the beam 30, up to the tip of the toes,i.e., by offering a maximum impulse torque.

Therefore, the construction according to the invention makes it possibleto reconcile maximum guiding and precision of the movement with anequally maximum transmission of power.

As seen in FIG. 4, in a lowered position of the first connecting member30, the curved support ramp 34 has a forward surface spaced above thebase 11 and a surface rearward of the forward surface in engagement withthe base. Further, as seen in FIG. 1, in a raised position of the firstconnecting member 30, the curved support ramp 34 has the forward surfacein engagement with the base 11 and the surface rearward of this forwardsurface is spaced above the base 11.

A rubber band 40 is fixed at 41 and 42 on the base 11, for example, byscrews, at the front and rear of the beam 30, and on both sides of itssupport zone on the sports article. Furthermore, this band 40 passesabove an axle 35, or spacer, arranged transversely between the tworocker bars 32, at the rear of the ramp 34.

Thus arranged, the rubber band 40 exerts, in the area of the axle 35 onthe beam 30, and therefore on the boot 2 which is connected thereto, aconstant force F of elastic return toward the upper surface 1 of thesports article. This construction helps in bringing the sports articleback against the boot sole at the end of the impulse phase and avoidsany interference thereof with the surface on which the sport ispracticed.

In this context, it is preferred that the point 35 of application of theforce F be located at the rear of the ramp 34, but in front of thejournal axle 21 of the rocker bar 20, to avoid an equilibrium positionof the boot raised with respect to the sports article 1 in the absenceof forces exerted by the user.

As the case may be and depending on the type of sport involved, aposition further in front of this point of application 35 of the force Fcan also be envisioned. The elastic band 40 can be replaced by any otherelastic return means, and in particular a spring, which produces thesame effect.

The rocker bar 20 is in the form of an integral piece whose ends areconstituted of two arms 22 spaced apart by the pivoting axle 31 of thebeam 30, on the one hand, and by the journal axle 21 of the rocker baron the base 11, on the other hand, each of these axles 21, 31, beingarranged at each of the ends of the rocker bar 20, the axle 21 beingarranged at the rear of the axle 31. Of course, the rocker bar 20 canalso be constituted of a plurality of portions.

The length of the rocker bar 20, i.e., the distance between the journalaxles 21, 31, thereof, determines the pivoting angle of the ramp 34.

The functioning of this binding device is very simple. In the absence ofany force from the user, the beam 30 is applied against the base 11under the effect of the elastic return means 40 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

During movement of the foot, the beam 30 and the rocker bar 20simultaneously perform a clockwise rotation (arrows R) about theirrespective axles 31, 21, the beam 30 furthermore pivoting on the base 11along a series of supports constituting as many instantaneous rotationaxes and moving along the curved ramp 34.

The pivoting of the beam 30 on the base 1. along the curved ramp 34makes it possible to reproduce a rotational and translational movementcorresponding to the natural movement of the foot in the area of the bigtoe thereof, and therefore makes it possible to reconcile the benefit ofa maximum impulse torque and the preservation of natural sensations oftouch with the guiding and precision characteristics of a rigid sole.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this construction also enables a maximumrotation, with an angle a on the order of 60° and more, between the beam30 and the base 11, which therefore reproduces a complete movement ofthe foot up to the tip of the big toe. In fact, this angle of rotation αcan even be greater than 60° depending on the desired practice. Thevalue of this angle α will depend on the elastic means 40 and on theshape of the curved ramp 34.

Such an angle of rotation is substantially greater than the angles ofmovement allowed by the known constructions, is particularlyadvantageous in the majority of sports involved, and in particularcross-country skiing, whether it is in the so-called conventionaltechnique, or in the so-called skating or skating step technique.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodimentdescribed hereinabove by way of non-limiting example, but encompassesall similar or equivalent embodiments.

It also applies to any sport in which similar or equivalent problemsmust be resolved.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for binding a boot to a sports article,said device comprising: a base to be fixed on the sports article; aconnecting member for connecting to the boot, the connecting membercomprising: an anchoring element for connection to a front zone of theboot; and a curved support ramp at a front portion of the connectingmember, the curved support ramp being in rolling engagement with thebase during movement of a rear of the connecting member up and downrelative to the base; and a rocker bar connecting the connecting memberto the base, the rocker bar being journalled on the base and on theconnecting member, the journal of the rocker bar on the base beingarranged rearward of the journal of the connecting member on the rockerbar.
 2. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein the curvedsupport ramp has a shape corresponding substantially to the outercontour of the big toe of a user.
 3. A binding device according to claim1, further comprising means for elastically returning the connectingmember toward the base.
 4. A binding device according to claim 3,wherein the means for elastically returning the connecting member towardthe base is arranged to apply a force at a rear of the curved supportramp.
 5. A binding device according to claim 3, wherein the means forelastically returning the connecting member toward the base is arrangedto apply a force at a front of the journal of the rocker bar on thebase.
 6. A binding device according to claim 3, wherein said means forelastically returning the connecting member toward the base areconstituted by a rubber blade anchored on the base on both sides of asupport zone of the connecting member.
 7. A binding device according toclaim 1, wherein the connecting member extends substantially from thefront end of the boot up to a metatarsophalangeal journal zone of theboot.
 8. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein the connectingmember has a maximum pivoting angle relative to the base substantiallyequal to 60°.
 9. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein theconnecting member has a maximum pivoting angle relative to the base ofgreater than 60°.
 10. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein thecurved support ramp comprises means for simulating a curvaturesubstantially corresponding to a contour of a lower surface of a big toeof a user.
 11. A device for binding a boot to a sports article, saiddevice comprising a base to be fixed on the sports article, a member forconnecting to the boot, a rocker bar connecting the connecting member tothe base, a first journal journalling the rocker bar to the base and asecond journal journalling the rocker bar to the connecting member,wherein the connecting member has a curved support ramp with a surfacein engagement with the base during pivoting of the connecting member.12. A binding device according to claim 11, wherein the first journal isrearward of the second journal.
 13. A binding device according to claim12, wherein the rocker bar is rotatable about an axis of the firstjournal and the connecting member is rotatable about an axis of thesecond journal, wherein rotation of said rocker bar and said connectingmember about said first and second journals, respectively, is in thesame direction.
 14. A binding device according to claim 11, furthercomprising a spring applying an elastic force biasing the connectingmember toward the base.
 15. A binding device according to claim 11,wherein the rocker bar is the only non-elastic element linking the baseand the connecting member.
 16. A device for binding a front zone of aboot to a sports article while allowing reciprocatory movement of a rearzone of the boot relative to the sports article, said device comprising:a base adapted to be fixed onto the sports article; a first connectingmember comprising at least one anchoring element for connection to thefront zone of the boot, said connecting member being fixed againstmovement relative to the boot, said first connecting member beingmovable relative to said base, during the reciprocatory movement of therear zone of the boot, between a lowered position and a raised position;said first connecting member further comprising a curved support ramp ata lower and front portion of said first connecting member; a secondconnecting member for connecting said first connecting member to saidbase, said second connecting member being journalled to said firstconnecting member along a first axis and being journalled to said basealong a second axis, said second axis being rearward of said first axis;in a lowered position of said first connecting member, said curvedsupport ramp having a forward surface spaced above said base and asurface rearward of said forward surface in engagement with said base;and in a raised position of said first connecting member, said curvedsupport ramp having said forward surface in engagement with said baseand said surface rearward of said forward surface spaced above saidbase.
 17. A binding device according to claim 16, wherein said secondconnecting member is a rocker bar, said rocker bar being journalled tosaid first connecting member about an axis extending along saidanchoring element of said first connecting member.
 18. A binding deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein, during movement from said raisedposition to said lowered position of said first connecting member, saidrocker bar rotates about second axis in a predetermined direction andsaid first connecting member rotates in said predetermined directionabout said axis extending along said anchoring element of said firstconnecting member.
 19. A binding device according to claim 16, whereinsaid curved support ramp of said first connecting member comprises acontinuous downwardly facing convex surface.
 20. A binding deviceaccording to claim 16, further comprising means for elastically urgingsaid first connecting member toward said base.
 21. A binding deviceaccording to claim 20, wherein said means for elastically urging saidfirst connecting member toward said base is arranged to apply a forcedirected toward a rear of said curved support ramp.
 22. A binding deviceaccording to claim 20, wherein said means for elastically urging saidfirst connecting member toward said base is arranged to apply a forcedirected forward of said second axis.
 23. A binding device according toclaim 20, wherein said means for elastically urging said firstconnecting member toward said base are constituted by a rubber bladeanchored on said base on opposite longitudinal ends of a support zone ofsaid first connecting member.
 24. A binding device according to claim 16in combination with the boot, wherein said first connecting memberextends substantially from a front end of said boot to ametatarsophalangeal journal zone of said boot.
 25. A binding deviceaccording to claim 16, wherein, between said raised and loweredpositions, said first connecting member pivots about an anglesubstantially equal to 60°.
 26. A binding device according to claim 16,wherein, between said raised and lowered positions, said firstconnecting member pivots about an angle greater than 60°.